Unison’s lead negotiator, Dougie Black, said the union would be working with councils in Scotland to ensure “life and limb cover” was available where necessary for services such as care homes and looked-after children.

“It’s clearly not our intention to place vulnerable people at risk,” he said.

Insult

However, he added: “Many of our social care staff are paid between £6 and £6.50 an hour, and the offer will only result in an increase of 15p an hour. This is an insult.”

A spokesperson for employers group Cosla said: “We will seek to ensure local agreements that protection will be in place for vulnerable people who depend on local services.”

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